Baffled
Posts 423

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/155169-new-departure-terminal-at-doha-airport-set-to-open.html

In this morning's paper!

tamieg1
Posts 422

I flew out on Emirates last night and was hoping to use the new terminal... but it has changed already to only Jet Airways or whatever it's called... back to the xray machine I went...

Silver6
Posts 188

We took friends to airport today, looking forward to seeing the new Departure terminal. Sorry ladies - it was closed.! Everyone was being directed to the old one. We tryed to get into the new one for a look, however Guards would not let us in, and couldn't tell us anything.

GinaM
Posts 1754

Baffled
Posts 423

Marycatherine - I am so surprised to learn this. Unfortunately, I have not had the luxury of visiting Canada yet but it is third on that very long list of 'countries to visit' that I have. It makes so much sense to have a separate queue for citizens as it speeds up the process unless when one is not a citizen of that specific country, of course. But I have heard a lot of good things about Canada without forgetting the lovely pictures from there, so I will definitely visit . The only problem I have with Canadians (no offence meant) is a few of them speak far too fast ... LOL but over the years, as an expat, I have found them to be loyal and lovely people to meet.

marycatherine
Posts 1656

If you want to be treated "equally" when entering a country - try Canada. Everyone waits in the same line whether you are a Canadian or not - it's one of my stupid annoyances, in every other country I've visited, nationals get a separate line (which separate line is available in the US and UK in my experience - experience limited to Houston, Miami, LA, San Diego, NYC and Atlanta and LHR)

Baffled
Posts 423

Sorry to disagree with you both about Manchester and Heathrow - they can both be quite slow especially during summer, any Bank holiday weekends and oh, not forgetting Christmas. In fact the last time we went back to Manchester on a trip from Oman, it took us one and half hours to go through immigration and I am talking about the queue for UK citizens and there was that poor lady (Spanish or Portuguese origin with two toddlers who was having a really hard time as the kids were obviously tired and restless) but no effort was made to move her to the front of the queue. However, there was a female immigration officer walking up and down the lines dropping the well rehearsed sentence along the way : "Are you all right?" without a care in the world - so eventually, when she reached me I told her that 'No, I wasn't but the lady with the kids was even worse, so if it wasn't too much trouble it would be great if she could assist her.' Too many people around had heard and I trust that it was simply not to embarass herself that she did take them to the front of the queue having ignored them until then. I have used Johannesburg and Dubai airports and cannot recall any very good or very bad service but not been to Maldives or Bangkok, but they are on my wish list for future trips.

Regarding both Australia and the US, I agree with what has been written so far!
edited by Baffled on 03/06/2011

kimmac
Posts 82

Okay - so I haven't been to US or Australia (would love to go though!), but Manchester UK, Johannesburg, Maldives, Dubai, Bangkok, even Heathrow have huge lines but they move pretty quickly. Then again everyone is treated equally there & there aren't 'more important' people that have to be escorted to the front of the line - if you get my drift That's why the new terminal at Doha was such a pleasure to go throught the other day.
I'm not being disrespectful, just politely putting forward my two cents worth.
I think the term FIFO would probably apply to me!
edited by kimmac on 03/06/2011

Baffled
Posts 423

Kimmac out of sheer interest, kindly elaborate : "... I don't seem to wait anywhere near as long as in the other countries we visit". Details would be welcome - thanks just to ensure we have been visiting the right countries so far!

GinaM
Posts 1754

Go visit Australia...way longer lines to get in - but then again we have the best country in the world so everyone is trying to get in there!

RachelA
Posts 3707

Have you ever travelled in or out of the US? Longest lines in the history of time!

kimmac
Posts 82

I agree GinaM, that kids shouldn't have e-gate passes, just moaning that the passport queues are horrible at Doha airport, I don't seem to wait anywhere near as long in the other countries we visit.

GinaM
Posts 1754

Not meaning to get on a soapbox here or defend Doha or anything like that but kids aren't allowed electronic passport entry in Australia either. Its a basic thing with kids around the world I think - no doubt to try and ensure that kidnapping/child smuggling etc is not made easy.

kimmac
Posts 82

........and with the kids not allowed the convenience of an e-gate pass you still have to brave the passport queues

CSH
Posts 626

Personally I think they should build the new airport out of town - near Shahaniya - and cut all the traffic around the airport. In Abu Dhabi the airport is out of town and it is fine. I don't understand this thing about building on reclaimed land.

As for queues....I have stood outside at 5am waiting to get in the departures terminal -with kids, in the heat and it is not fun. I have nearly missed a flight twice despite being there 90 mins early. So I think it depends on when you travel as to what experience you have at Doha airport!

Silver6
Posts 188

I agree with Gina - Doha airport is quickest and easiest airport I've ever exited or entered thru. I often catch a 3am flight.It takes 25mins from time I leave home til DH, (still home in bed), get's a text from Immigration saying I am departing. It's a breeze with online checkin and EGate pass.

DebK
Posts 492

I actually like the "smaller" feeling of the Doha airport. The xray machines at the entrance have never bothered me, but maybe it is the times of day that we tend to fly out. I've never really had to wait in a long line up, and the one time I saw there was a long line up one of the airport security staff saw that I was holding my epass in my hand and escorted us to the front of the line.

The only thing that I do NOT like about the Doha airport is the food. So I usually pack a sandwich or fruit with me and just buy a bottle of water. It could use a few nice restaurants instead of that cafeteria slop that looks like it's been there for days.

sophie
Posts 303

Any airport is better than Heathrow or Dubai's r̶e̶f̶u̶g̶e̶e̶ ̶c̶a̶m̶p̶s̶ terminals 1 and 2. Terminal 3 is better, but nowhere as good as some Asian airports.

Strangely, I don't mind Doha airport. The x-ray machine lines move quickly. Ditto immigration. My *only* gripe are those damn buses. Sometimes you just want to get from the plane to your bags asap.
edited by sophie on 01/06/2011

JillMV
Posts 1436

I'm with Gina on this one... I fly all the time, and Doha is SO quick and easy. I love it. Dubai is very nice and I like their restaurants, etc, but the immigration line always seems to be horrendous, and it takes forever to walk through the terminals. But Dubai is a really huge airport - don't really think you can compare the two.

Yes, the buses to the airplane in Doha are annoying and the secondary screening for US flights is a pain, but I'm glad they have that screening because the rest is not the best.

I love that I can get to the airport the minimum time in advance and not worry about missing the flight. I also love that it is so close to all of Doha. It makes traveling a breeze! My main airport in the US is JFK-- and let's just say it is NOT the same experience! Have to travel 2 hours to get there (or 4 in traffic), then have a battle of the security line, and could miss your flight jsut getting to the gate. I'd take the Doha airport anyday!

kimmac
Posts 82

Dubai Airport is an example of how airports should be operated, it's an absolute pleasure to go through there, especially Terminal 3.
The problem with Doha is that it's just too small to cope & the passport hall is a joke.

GinaM
Posts 1754

Where has anyone flown out of recently that has been less hassle than Doha...old or new or inbetween airport? I have to say that Doha is the one airport in the world where we still say "oh we only need to be there 90 minutes before the flight" and its not a problem - try doing that in London, Sydney or even Dubai! Lets give them a little bit of break here - its not that bad! Personally I'd be more concerned if they weren't xraying things in front of people - what a hold up that would be if they found something after it had been checked in and then they had to go looking for the person who had checked it in!
Edited for spelling mistakes!!
edited by GinaM on 31/05/2011

Kados
Posts 11

Here is some inside information
- Departures Terminal B will for all airlines excluding from Qatar Airways. Official opening June 14. Only Emirates at the moment
- The exsisting departures will undergo a 3 month renovation and will be dedicated for Qatar Airways. You will be all pleased to hear the xray machines will go back of house
- There are another 16 depatures gates under construction at the moment which will extend the terminal.
- The new airport is 2 year away.

weekirst
Posts 248

I always stride past the guys....have never been stopped....you are allowed into the checkin desks at every other airport with passengers, so why not here. Have to say, maybe I have just been lucky, but have also never had an issue with queues, staff etc and usually fly Qatar economy. The downside of the airport is through the other side, there are never enough seats at the gates.

kiwispiers
Posts 2575

BTW I always go past the xray before check in when I drop people off and they never care despite I think a sign that says passengers only.

kimmac
Posts 82

Myself & DS flew over to Dubai on Thursday through the new terminal (Emirates only at the moment) and it was sheer heaven. No stupid xray machines, no hideous check-in & passport queues & the staff were SO pleasant, almost thought I'd timewarped out of Doha just by going through the doors!
Serious argument for flying Emirates in the future.

catonclan
Posts 208

Last I heard, they had drafted in advisors from Japan to stop the new airport sinking into the reclaimed land, and was potentially going to take years to fix. That and the powers that be changing the spec every few months. Don't quote me on it, but that's what I heard via the QA grapevine.

kerboo
Posts 119

I had read a while back that QA was going to take over the original departures terminal and everyone else was going to be relegated to the previous arrivals terminal. Not true any more?

amy77
Posts 569

I've just been looking at the new airport plans, and I can't help thinking they might outgrow the new one very quickly....look at how big Dubai airport is now. There doesn't seem to be any room for new terminals on the new peninsula they've constructed.

amy77
Posts 569

Have I missed something?!

I have Googled and can't find anything about it, but I swear that a new departures terminal has opened at the airport very recently (within the past 48 hours judging by the amount of construction still going on and staff being led around on training sessions).

Just 3 weeks ago, I dropped my Mum off for an Emirates flight and it was the usual hellhole of a place with me not being able to accompany her to check in because of that stupid xray machine at the entrance.

This morning, I dropped my Dad off and was told that 'Emirates are now checking in in terminal B'.

Very confused I was, so I wandered down the road a bit and sure enough there is a brand spanking new departures terminal, wonderfully light and airy, lots of empty check in desks and a rather nice looking security area (you could see through to airside). With a pleasant cafe! (I know, pick yourselves up off the floor ladies).

Well blow me! I was surprised Emirates are using it rather than Qatar Airways, as it is SUCH an improvement on the other terminal.

Why are they building new departure terminals when they have a shiny new airport to open within the next few months/years?!